Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

Which factor can help guide shade selection for dental prosthetics?

1. Color temperature

2. Color saturation

3. Color illumination

4. Color chroma and hue

The correct answer is: Color chroma and hue

The selection of shade for dental prosthetics is critically important for achieving a natural look that blends well with the patient's existing teeth. The concept of color in dental shade matching involves several components, two of which are chroma and hue. Hue refers to the pure color aspect of a shade, such as red, blue, yellow, or green. In dentistry, hues are fundamental because they help identify the overall "color family" of a tooth shade, allowing for a selection that matches other teeth. Chroma, on the other hand, indicates the intensity or saturation of the color. This means that a tooth could have a specific hue but varying levels of chroma, leading to shades that are either more vibrant or more subdued. Together, these two factors help dental professionals choose the most appropriate shade of prosthetics that will look harmonious with the natural dentition of the patient. Other factors, such as color temperature and color illumination, while they can affect perception of color, do not play a direct role in the classification of the actual tooth shade itself. Therefore, D is the most comprehensive and relevant option for guiding shade selection in dental prosthetics.